Maratos at work at the Casual Grill on John Street

Peter Maratos can tell you everything it takes to design, build, and run a restaurant. From choosing and placing each tile and light fixture to painting the walls and installing all the cooking equipment, Maratos handled every detail involved in opening the Casual Grill on John Street. But ask him for a recommendation about what to eat, and the answers don't come as easily.

"I don't know what to recommend because everything is perfect," Maratos says from behind the counter, where he has been serving up burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads, and more for over a year.

The restaurant gets its names from what Maratos calls the latest trend in booming eatery chains like Cosi and Pret a Manger -- casual food. And at the Casual Grill, the food is very reasonably priced and made to order behind a counter for customers to see exactly what goes on. "We have nothing to hide," Maratos says.

Fries made fresh daily from raw potatoes

Though Maratos hails from Greece, his menu has more of a Southwest influence, including dishes like grilled jumbo shrimp on flat bread, buffalo chicken on country bread with blue cheese, and black bean quesadillas with three cheeses. The only Mediterranean inspired items available are chicken Florentine and Greek salads.

To keep the menu options exciting, Maratos recently added a cheese steak -- "grilled to perfection." But it's not like a Philly cheese steak, he says, because the meat is cooked on a higher flame for a shorter time, which keeps in more of the meat's natural juices. And the special sauce of ketchup, balsamic vinegar, and caramelized onions gives it a tasty boost.

Here, customers can also make their own salads from the salad bar in the front area of the restaurant or order a smoothie made from fresh fruit. Open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., the Casual Grill also serves up morning specials like breakfast burritos, bagels, and any kind of egg sandwich, among other offerings, and will deliver for free.

With lunch spots all around this downtown neighborhood, competition is fierce to feed the financial crowd. "You have to fight for customers with good atmosphere, good food, and good service," Maratos says. At the Casual Grill, patrons are sure to get friendly, quick service with their freshly prepared orders.

The Casual Grill
24 John Street
(212) 346-0571

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